Album Review: Shine Forever
Minnesota Legend. He is our Justin Bieber.
Wow.
This album makes me feel like I have a diamond earring and I wear Stussy and Diamond Supply Co, I feel like I should be doing burnouts in a parking lot, I feel like I should be listening to this in someone’s basement, I feel like I should be the manager at a Taco Bell, I’m on top of the world.
If you give a mouse the new Lil Shine album, then he’ll ask for a hot chocolate! He’ll ask for the new IAMGIA set, he’ll want more Fenty glitter, he’ll want furry moon boots! All of the beats sound like ice skating. The album cover could be entirely different and it would still sound like that. Though, it does add something that he’s standing with a snowman. After one listen I was ready to give Lil Shine a “Minnesota Legend” title. Forget what he did, free him!
Lil Shine has been continually shocking to me. When I first listened to him I was shocked at how good he was for being so young, I was like ‘He’s the new Matt Ox!’. Then I was shocked to find out what he looked like, I honestly don’t know what I expected. Then I was shocked that he is facing prison soon. Then I was shocked when he cut all his hair off. Then I was shocked at how good this album is.
I feel like this album has made me slightly delusional because just as everyone in Minneapolis has their story with Prince, I keep finding myself wondering if my friends from here have a Lil Shine story. The album is that good.
Anyways, the track highlights.
Date Night – This was my favorite song on first listen. My favorite trend or feature of rap music lately is the little laugh, “Ha” after saying something. It’s so funny and it just makes the song so fun - perfect ad-lib. It opens with “What’s up, Ha, Bitch, thought it was date night”. He does a lot of laugh ad-libs in this song, it makes me feel like I’m in on it, we’re all laughing, everything’s fun.
God - At first, I thought this might be the dud of the album, it sounded a little generic, almost like Drake (no shade). Then in the second half of the song, the snaps came in and I started dancing.
G.Y.B. - I loved this sample, it reminded me of this forgotten TI song that I love. It’s funny how rappers don’t sample old school hip-hop anymore, they’re already sampling songs from 2013.
Feel Me 2 – At first I was thinking he already released this song, because I already loved this song. It turns out it was his song “Feel Me” that I loved. I always say this to people who make music, “If you make something good, you should just keep making it over and over again.” He even used the exact same lyrics as “Feel Me” at certain parts, and for that, I respect it.
KissMeThruDaPhone – The obvious highlight of the album. I put this one on repeat the morning after the album came out. This song is life-changing. Soulja Boy reimagined for 2025. I hope my whole year sounds like this.
I love the Lil Shine-isms, and his whiney R&B flow – he’s like if Matt Ox became Justin Bieber. He stays true to his sound, but finds ways to reinvent that don’t stray too far away. I think the album sounds even better in Minnesota. 2025 is looking good.